ENGL 695 A1: Love in all its (literary) forms

G. Kelly

Explorations in the literature of love in as many forms as we can fit in—from Valentine cards (including “vinegar valentines”) to legal prescriptions, from medieval romance to psychological theory, from sex manuals to ancient Greek romance, from neuroscience to rom-coms, from criminal trial records to love poetry, from erotica to popular song. Emphasis may be on the conventionally “literary”—whatever that may be—but we should include other discourses, as “literature” in the broadest sense. Selections from these will be related, as time allows, to actual situatedness of lovespeak, or contexts of kinds interesting to the seminar group, including the politics of love. Members can choose their topics; research-reporting and discussion will happen in the seminar time and any discussion lists members choose to open. No particular conclusions are sought. Rather, the hope is to gain some knowledge of the discursive field of lovespeak (and lovewrite) as part of people’s creation of “immortal ordinary society.” Members will choose assignments. Respect and safety are primary.